SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, October 29. Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency has hosted a conference in Shusha titled "Health Tourism in Azerbaijan: Development Opportunities," Trend reports.
Participants included representatives from the State Tourism Agency, the special representative offices of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Health, and around 200 experts in healthcare and medical tourism from Azerbaijan and several foreign countries.
The conference featured panel sessions on topics such as "Health Tourism in Azerbaijan: Current Status and Opportunities," "Global and Successful Experience in Health Tourism: Proposals for Azerbaijan," and "Medical Tourism in Azerbaijan: A Look into the Future and Strategy."
Chairman of the State Tourism Agency, Fuad Nagiyev, revealed plans to establish a comprehensive mechanism for the value chain of Naftalan oil, covering everything from processing to consumption. He underscored Azerbaijan's considerable potential in the wellness tourism sector.
"Historically, Naftalan healing oil, the salt mountain in Nakhchivan, Istisu in Kalbajar, and other natural therapeutic resources have gained regional and international recognition. Additionally, districts such as Absheron, Shabran, Gabala, Lankaran, Sheki, and others continue to operate wellness tourism destinations that attract both local and foreign tourists," he noted.
He further mentioned that significant efforts have been made in recent years to advance various aspects of wellness tourism, highlighting that this sector remains a priority for the country's leadership. The "Strategic Roadmap for the Development of the Specialized Tourism Industry in the Republic of Azerbaijan," approved by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, places particular emphasis on wellness tourism.
Nagiyev also reported that Turkish specialists have explored tourism opportunities in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. The State Tourism Agency has assessed wellness tourism resources and prepared a report titled "Wellness Tourism in Azerbaijan: Current Status and Development Prospects."
He added that a working group has been established to facilitate the sector's growth, including representatives from various state and private entities, as well as public organizations.
"Advancing Naftalan oil as a tourist attraction and promoting it in European and emerging markets are key priorities. It's worth mentioning that Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur also feature regions with considerable potential for wellness tourism. Recent studies, conducted in collaboration with Turkish experts, have produced valuable recommendations for these areas," he said.
Nagiyev pointed out that Kalbajar's unique balneological potential is significant, with two of the five proposed tourist and recreational zones in a conceptual document dedicated to wellness tourism, while the remaining two are focused on mineral and thermal springs.
He also emphasized that Lachin is abundant in mineral thermal resources.
Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
